Go do a Google image search under "Christmas Wreaths". Many thousands of images will show up. The majority are green with red ornaments.
Like these:
Yet a group that places wreaths on the graves of veterans in recent years insists they are VETERAN'S wreaths, and not religious symbols.
A few days before Christmas, they'll be placing the wreaths on the graves, without permission from the survivors, and without regard for the actual real religious beliefs (or lack thereof) of the veterans buried there.
By the way, a google image search under "veteran's wreaths" turns up a significantly smaller number of images, most of them part of media coverage.
And while we're on the topic of Christmas, I watched an interview with a group putting on what they call an "interfaith nativity display". They've been putting the display on for years, and every-time they do I make the same suggestion: Stop using the word "interfaith".
Inter-denominational, sure, but not interfaith.
The nativity scenes don't have any particular appeal to non-Christians.
Bloomberg reports:
"Finland is set to pick Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35 fighter jets in its 10 billion-euro ($11.3 billion) tender to replace soon-outdated war planes that form a key defense pillar of Russia’s neighbor, according to a report in local media.
A fleet of F-35s will be acquired due to their capability and expected long lifespan, newspaper Iltalehti said, citing a number of defense and security policy sources it didn’t identify. The Defense Forces made the proposal to the Defense Ministry, which backs the motion along with top security and foreign policy makers, the newspaper said on Sunday."
It isn't fair to criticize Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky for sending this photo out as the school shooting in Michigan is unfolding. There are so many school shootings, after all. It's pretty much impossible to find a date when there is not one under investigation.
As for the disconnect between the guns and Jesus Christ? Congressman, WWJD?
There is a cash wall to the article, but worth it to read the major article about one of Alabama's premier "outsider" artists:
For many self-taught artists, “there’s been some kind of trauma or some pivotal experience that makes them reevaluate what they can do … and it frees them in a way,” says Jennifer Jankauskas, a curator at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts in Alabama, where Lucas’s work has been displayed in the sculpture garden alongside those of classically trained sculptors. She notes that “in Charlie’s case, I think he’s very aware of his ancestors, and that definitely feeds into his work.”
(Photo from the art gallery that represents Lucas, Marcia Weber in Montgomery.)
"Occupying the bizarre territory between pickup and SUV, the Santa Cruz is unlike anything else you can buy today. Hyundai essentially took an SUV, scooped out a big chunk of the roof, and stuck on a modest truck bed where the trunk should be."
"It sounds grotesque, but the result is a vehicle that perfectly marries the utility of a pickup with the familiar form and feel of an SUV. In a league all on its own, the Santa Cruz is a gloriously funky answer to the bulky trucks and faceless crossovers that dominate US roads."
I read from minutes after I awake till I close my eyes, topics across the spectrum.
And so, when I read an ABC story about doctors amputating the wrong limb, I remembered a medical article about the best way to prevent those medical errors.
Not to mark the limb that IS to be amputated, but the one that is NOT:
"A further step that you can take to protect yourself is to take a sharpie and make sure to mark the opposite limb that does not require surgery with a note such as “DO NOT CUT THIS LEG.” Having that written in big, bold letters across your leg is pretty hard to miss, and it can pretty much guarantee that they will not remove that leg."
Source: https://marketbusinessnews.com/wrong-limb-amputated/248727/
The Shoe Carnival chain is buying the Shoe Station chain, which is headquartered in Mobile.
with three area locations: Montgomery, Auburn, and Prattville
with one location in Montgomery.
"Shoe Station is one of the largest independent shoe retailers in the U.S., with 21 locations in five Southeastern states—Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Shoe Carnival is one of the nation’s largest family footwear retailers, operating 377 stores in 35 states and Puerto Rico."
(from news release)
"Here's Why Movie Dialogue Has Gotten More Difficult To Understand (And Three Ways To Fix It)"
Read the story HERE.
"The first legislation on education in what is now the State of Alabama was by the Mississippi Territory in 1811, when it chartered an academy in Washington County. It was called Washington Academy, and the exact location was to be fixed. It was made free from tax, and given authority to raise $5,000 by-lottery.
[Source: History of Public School education in Alabama, 1915.]
A Republican State Lawmaker quoted in a Politico story:
“The thing is, we got a federal lawsuit hanging over our head,” said a Republican state lawmaker who was granted anonymity to talk candidly. “And, quite frankly, they should have dropped the hammer a long time ago. Our prisons are in horrible shape, we stubbornly dragged our feet, and I’m really at the point that, when they do it, I’m just going to laugh my ass off.”
“We’re the ones with the super-majority and the votes, and we’re the ones responsible for governing,” he said. “When the feds take over, it's our fault. It will be our fault. We can’t blame nobody else but us.”
Full story is HERE.
Will there be games to fill them in four months?
The minor leagues should go on
Based on past precedent, it should be business as usual for the minor leagues during the lockout. The notable exception is players on the 40-man roster (i.e. MLBPA members) will be expected to stand with their union brethren and not play for an MLB affiliated minor-league team during the lockout. Non-40-man roster players are free to play in the minors, however, and they will not be seen as crossing the picket line like MLB's replacement players during the 1994-95 strike.
The 2022 minor-league season is scheduled to begin April 8, and if the lockout extends to the point where minor-league games are being played but MLB games are not, we could see nationally broadcast minor-league games, similar to ESPN showing Korean Baseball Organization games during the pandemic shutdown last year. Some notable minor leaguers not on their organization's 40-man roster include Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., and Tigers outfielder Riley Greene.
I see online posts characterizing FedEx as one of the victims of the driver who allegedly dumped hundreds of packages here in Alabama:
Memphis, Tennessee-based FedEx told the local CBS affiliate that the driver was no longer employed by the shipping giant.
"The security of our customers' shipments is a top priority and we are committed to treating our customers' packages with the utmost care. In addition to cooperating with law enforcement, we have reviewed this situation and can confirm that the individual involved is no longer providing service on behalf of FedEx Ground.
"We regret the inconvenience this situation has caused and appreciate our customers' understanding throughout the package recovery process. Where possible, recovered packages are being delivered to the intended recipients. In the event of a damaged shipment, we will make every effort to work with the affected shippers to reach a resolution. As always, customers with questions about their shipments can track their packages by visiting http://fedex.com."
Sure, FedEx was injured by the driver's alleged actions, but hey, they hired the person, they cleared (or should have cleared) him or her for being in charge of all of that merchandise....don't they bear some responsibility?
And as I mentioned in an earlier post, isn't there some chutzpah involved in telling their customers to go to their website to search for missing packages? Doesn't the company has access to that system? Why didn't they do that search on the discarded packages?
Those 129 killings didn't dissuade Conde Nest Traveler magazine from naming the "Magic City" one of the best 22 places in the world to visit in the New Year.
Of course the magazine also listed the state of West Virginia in the same story, so go figure.
